Checking device for record controlled recording apparatus



May 23, 1951 FIG! J. H. REYNOLDS CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 1 300 NHOP INVENTOR JACK H. REYNOLDS HlS ATTORNEY May 23, 1961 CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 IZI J. H. REYNOLDS 2,985,362

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CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 FIG.7A

18 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR JACK H. REYNOLDS ms ATTORNEY May 23, 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORDCONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS 18 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 9, 1959 INVENTOR JACK H. REYNOLDS Mf /M a HIS ATTORNEY May 23, 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS 2,985,362

CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 7 v O O (19%) O e INVENTOR JACK H .REYNOLDS BY MW Z41 HIS ATTORNEY May 23, 1961 J. H.-REYNOLDS 2,985,362

CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 r 18 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR JACK H. REYNOLDS HIS ATTORNEY May 23, 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS 2,985,362

CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG.2|

JACK H.REYNOLDS HIS ATTORNEY May 23, 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS l8 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed July 9, 1959 HIS ATTORNEY MNQE May 23, 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS 2,985,362

CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 11 INVENTORS JACK H. REYNOLDS Wm M41 HIS ATTORNEY y 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS 2,985,362

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CHECKING DEVICE FORRECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 15 C40bl I NTOR JAc A E. REYNOLDS Km 4 m HIS ATTORNEY 18 Sheets-Sheet 16 INVENTOR JACK H. REYNOLDS May 23, 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 m moms g 556mm :96 oh N 88 3% 1 f g NENNx zfifiwz g? .H H 3% Eng 50 any any 3% H HIS ATTORNEY 3n MQWQE $5.8m :98 on May 23, 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 17 QOmJJ s w mm 7 mm wu mK W G A J Y B mom: n mwomouwm 8 H a v H U o 9. EN! 82 H g 05 A. A H 528mm 9 -59 n 558mm 3 a? m gnum N uommw m E5 96 B T T N QQE fwwww 585mm 1 .338 i un J 6! El. mmm H N350 9 8mm o-uw .u| 238% n HIS ATTORNEY May 23, 1961 J. H. REYNOLDS CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Filed July 9, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 mom- vmvzam'oa JACK H.REYNOLDS ms ATTORNEY United States Patent OfiFice 2,985,362 Patented May 23, 1961 CHECKING DEVICE FOR RECORD CONTROLLED RECORDING APPARATUS Jack H. Reynolds, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National 'Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Filed July 9, 1959, Ser. No. 825,991

7 Claims. (Cl. 234-22) This invention relates to improvements in a recording system of the type disclosed in the co-pending United States patent application of Richard L. Ditmer et al., Serial No. 622,591, filed November 16, 1956. More particularly, the invention relates to new and improved means for sensing and correcting errors that occur in a data-recording system.

The recording system of the above-cited application is utilized as part of a merchandising transaction. Included in this transaction is the recording, on paper tape, of information concerning the clerk involved in the transaction; the customer; the merchandise; and any monetary amounts connected with the sale. The tape is then used as a data input to a tape-to-card converter or to an electronic computer for classification and analysis.

The apparatus involved in this recording system includes a media reader, a cash register, and a tape recorder. The media reader is of the type which is capable of sensing, and transmitting to the tape recorder, information which is pre-punched into various media such as tags or tokens. This information is then punched into a paper tape by the tape recorder. The monetary amounts involved in the transaction (selling price, tax, discount, etc.) are entered into the recording system by the cash register keyboard. Thus a normal operation would include the use of the media reader and the cash register as data input devices.

The tags used in conjunction with the media reader contain rows of perforations representing the information desired. There is a tag for the clerk, the customer, and each item of merchandise. Each tag contains additional perforations identifying the tag as a clerk, customer, or merchandise tag. These perforations are used in conjunction with a sequence control means contained within the media reader. Under this type of control means, the dificrent classes of data (clerk, customer, etc.) are recorded in a predetermined sequence. Interlocks are contained in the system to prevent the operation of the cash register while the media reader is being used. The interlocks are used in conjunction with the sequence control means. Under this system, the operator is forced to insert the different types of tags (clerk, customer, or merchandise) and to use the cash register keyboard in a predetermined desired sequence. Failure to comply with such a sequence results in the locking up of the recording system until the proper data is inserted.

In order to insure that the punched tape includes all the data required for the transaction, a parity check is contained in the system, which locks up the system upon the occurrence of an incorrect punching operation due to a failure of the sensing means of the media reader to operate or to a defective tag or for any other reason. When this condition occurs, the operator is forced to eject the media manually and then repeat the entire sequence of recording.

The parity check acts only upon the operation of the punching mechanism. Failure of the punching mechanism to operate would prevent the operation of the parity check. Thus, upon the occurrence of an operational failure of the punching mechanism, there would be no indication to the operator that such a failure had occurred. Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a recording system having an improved errordetecting means, which will function under all operating conditions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an error-detecting circuit which operates independently of all human control.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide for the automatic punching of a void symbol in the tape, which indicates the occurrence of an error in the recording of the tape.

It is another object of this invention to provide for the correcting of the error occurring in the punching of the tape.

It is a still further object of this invention to automatically condition the media reader for a further rereading of the media upon the occurrence of an error in the recording of the data contained in said media.

It is another object of this invention to disable the operation of the data-recording system upon the occurrence of an error in the punching operation, which forces the operator to recognize that such an error has occurred.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the novel apparatus, showing the cash register, the media reader, and the recorder components of the apparatus, together with the cables for connecting the three components of the apparatus together for joint operation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged facsimile of a typical clerk number tag to be read by the media reader.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged facsimile of a typical multiplepart merchandise tag to be read by the media reader.

Fig. 4 represents a portion of the tape produced in the recorder and shows the code used to represent the data and the symbols.

Figs. 5A and 5B together constitute a vertical section through the media reader.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a part of the media reader.

Figs. 7A and 7B together constitute a top plan view of the media reader, with certain parts broken away to show other parts more clearly.

Fig. 8 is a side detail view of a portion of the sensing means employed in the reading of the identification column of a tag or token inserted into the media reader.

Fig. 9 is a top detail view of a portion of the identification-column-sensing means of the media reader.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of the tag-alining means and the store-identification means.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the tag chute and associated mechanism, with portions broken away to show the various parts more clearly.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of the tag stop means.

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the tag-ejecting means.

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the starting switch mechanism.

Fig. 15 is an elevation of the tag-ejecting plate.

Figs. 16 to 20 inclusive are detail views of solenoidoperated mechanism for controlilng certain functions of the media reader.

Fig. 21 shows the media reader cam line.

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line 2222 of Fig. 21.

Fig. 22A is a sectional view taken along the line 22A- 22A of Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is a side elevational view showing the motor,

3 the clutch, and the gear train for driving the media reader cam line.

Fig. 24 is a detail view showing the manual tag-ejecting means.

Fig. 25 is a detail view showing the ejecting plate used in the mechanism of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is another detail view of the manual tag-ejecting means.

Figs. 27 and 28 are detail views of the electrical contact means for the identification-column-sensing mechamsm.

Fig. 29 is a detail view of the tag-validating means.

-Fig. 30 is an enlarged detail view of the validating hammer.

Fig. 31 is a detail view of the solenoid-operated mechanism for controlling the functioning of the identification-column-sensing means and the tag-clamping means.

Fig. 32 is a top plan view of the media reader selector switch units.

Figs. 33 and 34 are detail views of one of the wipers used in the selector switch.

Figs. 35 and 36 are sectional views taken on lines 35-35 and 36-36, respectively, of Fig. 32.

Fig. 37 is a sectional view taken on line 3737 of Fig. 32, showing the switch-advancing means for the selector switch.

Fig. 38 is a schematic block diagram of a data-recording system embodying the media reader containing the present invention.

Figs. 39A, 39B, 39C, and 39D together constitute a circuit diagram of the media-reader-operating circuit shown in block form in Fig. 38.

General description The invention illustrated herein is embodied in a media reader which provides means for reading data from a record member, such as a tag, perforated according to a predetermined code, and further provides means for controlling the recorder or utilizing device through electrical signals corresponding to the data read.

In the following description, the media reader will be considered to be embodied in a data-recording system in which data relating to sales of merchandise can be recorded quickly and accurately on a tape at the time the sale is made. With the data for each sale being thus recorded on a tape after the sale is made, the data for consecutive sales will appear sequentially along the tape in such manner that the tape can readily be used to control computers, or other data-processing equipment, to quickly produce stock control data, sales data, and statistical information or other reports which might be desired.

In order to have all of the information about the sale which will be needed to produce the various control data, statistics, or reports, it may be necessary to record clerk, customer account, or merchandise identification data as well as sales data for each sale. Accordingly, for each article sold, the tape will be punched with clerk number data, followed by customer or account number data, followed by merchandise identification data, followed in turn by a related set of data giving details pertaining to the nature and the amount of the sale. 'The punched segment of tape pertaining to each complete transaction, including clerk identification, customer identification, merchandise data, tax or other operation, and total, is considered as a frame of information on the tape and will normally be separated from other adjacent frames of information by End of Frame symbols.

Apparatus making up a system of the above type is shown in Fig. 1 and includes the recorder 100, which can produce punched tape; a media reader 101, which can control the recorder to cause clerk identification, customer or an account identification, and merchandise description data to be punched on the tape; and a cash register 102,

on which sales data can be set to control the recorder to cause sales data to be punched, on which tax, total, and other operations can also be set for registering and recording, and which on occasion can also control the recorder for the punching of clerk and customer identification and merchandise description data when tags or other record members adapted to be read by the media reader are not provided. The recorder, the media reader, and the cash register are connected by cables for a joint operation, and, while they are shown as separate units in Fig. 1, all three units could, if desired, be contained in a single cabinet.

The media reader is provided to control the recorder to supply the clerk number identification, customer or account number identification, and merchandise description data. This data is read from a tag which has been previously perforated according to a predetermined code to represent the information which it is desired to read and record.

Shown in Fig. 2 is a clerk number tag 103, on which a clerk-identifying number is punched. This tag is retained in the possession of the clerk and is inserted into the media reader, as will be disclosed subsequently, whenever the clerk utilizes the recording system, in the completion of a transaction, in order to cause a number identifying the clerk to be recorded.

The tag, as shown in Fig. 2, has provision for an identification column and sixteen columns of punched data, and a longer tag, capable of providing additional columns, may be used if desired. Customarily, however, only seven columns will be used for punched data, since this will provide sufiicient capacity for most applications. Also in some instances, as will be described subsequently, it may be desired or necessary to use rows 2 to 8 inclusive of the cash register keyboard to enter the clerk number into the recording system in the event that a clerk number tag is not used, and this limits the clerk number to seven digits unless two or more consecutive operations of the register are used for this purpose. As an example of the data which may be punched in the tag of Fig. 2, the first column is punched with an identification symbol in channel 1 of the first column to identify this as a clerk number tag, and the next seven columns are punched with a four-digit code identifying the clerk, 0003586. The digits punched in these columns are also printed on the tag for direct inspection.

In addition to the clerk-identifying data which is punched and printed thereon, the tag may also have printed thereon the clerks name, John Doe, and, if desired, additional information (not shown), such as the department of the store in which the clerk is employed, etc.

In addition to the identification columns and the columns of punched data, the clerk number tag as shown in Fig. 2 has two alining holes, 104 and 105, a further hole, 106, and a cutout portion, 107. It will be noted that the alining hole 104 is round, while he alining hole 105 is square. Both of the media reader alining pins are round in cross section, but the hole 105 is of square configuration to permit variations in tag length due to temperature and humidity conditions. The hole 106 is provided to register with a store identification pin on the alining mechanism of the media reader, which pin is used for checking the customer number tag, as will be described subsequently.

The cutout portion 107 on the clerk number tag reg isters with a validation stamp on the alining mechanism of the media reader, which stamp is used in connection with the merchandise tags, as will be described subsequently. Since it is not desired to use the validation stamp on the clerk number tag, the portion of the tag 103 which would otherwise be stamped is cut away.

The customer number tag is of similar construction to th t OWH i the clerks tag. For a complete dis- 

